The Intuit Arena in Inglewood, CA, was engulfed in a storm of metal mayhem on September 14th as Slipknot, Knocked Loose, and Vended delivered an unforgettable night of raw energy and sonic brutality. The second consecutive night of the Here Comes the Pain Tour proved to be more than just a concert; it was a visceral experience, a communal gathering of metalheads who came together to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Slipknot. From the first crushing riff of “(sic)” to the final blistering encore of “Scissors,” the evening was packed with metal mayhem at its finest—providing fans with arguably the best metal performance in Southern California this year (and it wasn’t even close).
Vended kicked off the night, setting the stage with their intense and electrifying performance. As the sons of Slipknot members Corey Taylor and Shawn Crahan, Griffin Taylor and Simon Crahan led the band with a commanding presence that stunned the senses of an ever growing crowd. Vended tore through a setlist that included tracks “Serenity” and “Asylum,” captivating the audience with their raw, unpolished sound and passionate delivery. The crowd absolutely loved this band, moshing and headbanging to an abbreviated 6-song set. As a newcomer to the Vended, I was absolutely impressed by their ability to hold their own on such a prestigious stage. I look forward to seeing them live as a headliner in the not so distant future.
Next up were Knocked Loose, who delivered a punishing set that left no room for breathers. With Bryan Garris at the helm, the band unleashed a sonic assault that had the crowd surging forward, eager to participate in the chaos. Tracks “Mistakes Like Fractures” and “Suffocate” turned the Intuit arena into a sea of bodies, the intensity of the music mirrored by the frenetic energy of the fans. Knocked Loose’s performance was a testament to their reputation as one of the most ferocious live acts in the hardcore scene. They wrapped a 14-song set with “Everything is Quiet Now,” and placed a huge exclamation point on what turned out to be one fucking incredible show.
The anticipation reached its peak as Slipknot finally took the stage. The lights dimmed, and the crowd erupted into a deafening cheer, the air thick with anticipation. As the first notes of “(sic)” rang out, it was clear that the metal juggernauts were back and ready to deliver one of their trademark explosive performances. Clad in their iconic masks from 25 years prior, Slipknot unleashed a relentless barrage from its self-titled LP Slipknot, which they played in its entirety. Each song was accompanied by a spectacular visual display including trademark smoke and lighting effects that heightened the intensity of the performance.
Corey Taylor’s vocals were as powerful as ever, cutting through the wall of sound with a commanding presence that had the second sold-out crowd hanging on every word. The band’s tight musicianship was on full display, with Mick Thomson and Jim Root trading blistering guitar riffs, while Shawn Crahan and Michael Plaff laid down a thunderous rhythm that shook the very foundations of the arena. The low end was held down by Alessandro Venturella and Eloy Casagrande, while Sid Wilson’s turntable antics (along with another unnamed keyboardist) combined to electrify with incredible samples. Their combined efforts added layers of complexity to the soundscape, making for a multi-dimensional performance that was as sonically rich as it was visually stunning.
The encore was comprised of three of my all-time favorites: “Spit It Out,” “Surfacing,” and Scissors.” While many bands phone in the encores, Slipknot cranked it to eleven and nearly blew the rood off the Clippers new home. As the final notes of these classics echoed through a now frenetic Intuit Arena, Slipknot left the stage to a thunderous ovation from their legions of loyal fans. As the audience filed out drenched in sweat, it was clear to all who attended that Saturday night’s show was definitely one for the ages, and one I will likely never forget.
KNOCKED LOOSE
VENDED
